Do Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Explain Sex Differences in Cognitive Functioning in Old Age?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sex differences in cognitive functioning in old age are known to exist yet are still poorly understood.

Objective

This study examines to what extent differences in cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease between men and women explain sex differences in cognitive functioning.

Methods

Data from 2,724 older adults from the Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam were used. Information processing speed and episodic memory, measured three times during six years of follow-up, served as outcomes. The mediating role of cardiovascular risk factors and cardiovascular disease was examined in single and multiple mediator models. Determinant-mediator effects were estimated using linear or logistic regression, and determinant-outcome and mediator-outcome effect

SUBMITTER: van Zutphen EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8150475 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature